INCREASING STUDENT VIOLENCE RAISES ALARMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000142 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/INSB, DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2030 TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM PINR SOCI KCRM KDEM BG SUBJECT: INCREASING STUDENT VIOLENCE RAISES ALARMS REF: DHAKA 132 Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reason 1.4 (b) and (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) A recent surge in student violence, and the ensuing crackdown on Islamic student groups, has raised concern that Bangladesh may witness a return to the violent political confrontations that preceded the January 2007 State of Emergency. The Government of Bangladesh (GOB) announced a crackdown on Jamaat-e-Islami (JI)'s student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir (Shibir),after Shibir members brutally murdered one student and disabled four others who were all members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League. Competition for money, power and influence have steadily undermined the legitimacy of all student political groups, which are often lionized for their leading role in past pro-democracy movements. Increasingly, civil society has begun to call for a ban on student politics even as the parties continue to see their youth wings as potent weapons in their struggle for dominance. To the Winner Goes the Spoils -------------- ¶2. (C) Following a pattern set following earlier elections, the Awami League's student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL),has since the Awami League's return to power in January 2009 re-established control over most of Bangladesh's public universities and colleges. Dr. Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, former Assistant Proctor at Dhaka University, explained to Poloff that the student wing with such control used its position to collect protection money. The BCL during the last year extorted money from contractors, shops, and businesses operating on or near colleges and universities, manipulated tenders for government and university contracts, interfered with the enrollment of students not affiliated with the Awami League, and controlled the allocation of dormitory rooms. ¶3. (C) Dr. Kalimullah and a Dhaka University alumnus told Poloff that the BCL's recent behavior was particularly heavy-handed, even when compared to the activities of other student wings when they were in power. Both said this was especially true regarding the BCL's interference in university admissions. The BCL often coerced prospective students into bypassing the normal admissions process in order to collect money from them in exchange for admission. Several colleges had to postpone repeatedly their admissions processing because of BCL threats and violence. The BCL is allegedly responsible for eight of at least 11 student murders since January 2009, according to publish press reports. Besides BCL attacks against rival student groups, internecine clashes for political and financial advantages among low and mid-level leaders within the group also rocked college campuses. Senior Awami League leaders have claimed they were powerless to control BCL's actions. Dhaka University - A Center of Unrest -------------- ¶4. (C) Dhaka University, Bangladesh's largest university with about 30,000 students, is the historic center of gravity for student movements throughout the country's history. Clashes between the BCL and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP'S) student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) broke out on Dhaka University's campus in late January 2010 and continued sporadically into February. Violence resulting from power struggles within the wings also occurred at Dhaka University. On January 18, two factions of JCD fought on the campus for several hours injuring about 50 people, including the proctor of the university and the president of the JCD. Sultan Salauddin Tuku, President of the BNP's JCD, alleged the Awami League's BCL supported two "rebel JCD leaders" with weapons and personnel during their clash with the JCD leadership on January 18. Photos of the clash showed individuals armed with machetes and a few pistols. Shahid Uddin Chowdhury, the BNP's Student Affairs Secretary, former President of JCD, and current Member of Parliament, complained to Poloff that police on the scene did not protect JCD leaders from attackers, nor did they make any arrests or confiscate any weapons. Chowdhury claimed the Awami League was ultimately behind the BCL's actions. (Note: During the January 18 clash, JCD President Tuku suffered a serious head wound requiring stitches. He was attacked within feet of police and the attacker managed to escape arrest. The attack was photographed and the attacker identified. Other individuals photographed holding weapons during that day's clashes were also identified. Police arrested one of those identified only after several days of press reports criticizing police inaction. End note.) ¶5. (SBU) Two competing BCL factions at Dhaka University fought each other on February 3 until police used tear gas to disrupt the combatants. Abu Bakar Siddique, a student caught in the clash was killed during the incident. After Siddique's death, Awami League General Secretary and GOB Spokesman Syed Ashraful Islam alleged that Jamaat Islami's student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir (Shibir),had infiltrated the BCL and that it was they who had engaged in criminal acts. Several journalists called Ashraf's comment "ridiculous" and said it was a ploy to shirk responsibility. Home Minister Shahara Khatun drew widespread criticism when she described the student's death as an isolated and unusual incident. Government Cracks Down on Shibir -------------- ¶6. (SBU) On February 9, members of Shibir and BCL fought each other on the Rajshahi University campus in northwestern Bangladesh over control of a dormitory. Shibir members brutally killed Faruk Hossain, a BCL activist, and dumped his body down a manhole. Press reports stated Shibir members also attacked four other BCL members, allegedly cutting their tendons. State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Haq Tuku (who rose to prominence after defeating Jamaat Islami Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami in the December 2008 Parliamentary elections) visited Rajshahi the following day and announced the launch of a countrywide sweep against JI and Shibir members. Police arrested at least 364 people between February 11 - 14 during raids on Shibir and JI members' offices and homes. Awami League Leaders Attempt to Rein in BCL -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Following the latest string of violent student clashes, the press reported that PM Hasina and other senior AL figures warned BCL leaders and members to restrain themselves. To emphasize this warning, the Prime Minister resigned her position as the formal head of the BCL. The Home Minister reiterated publicly that the police would take drastic action against "trouble-makers" irrespective of party affiliation. However, the GOB has yet to take decisive action against any BCL members involved in violent clashes, murder, corruption, or other crimes. Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) The most recent spate of student violence only partly involved political maneuverings between rival political parties. Much of the violence stems from the corrupt practices that various student wings developed over the last three decades to collect money and increase their power and influence. That said, the failure of the government, despite its public statements and warnings, to investigate BCL members involved in criminal activities has undermined its credibility. Such partisan behavior provides further incentive for the BNP to attempt to mobilize the public against the Awami League government. If there is a silver lining to the recent violence, it can be found in increasing calls from civil society to depoliticize campuses and place restrictions on student political groups. MORIARTY